I'm thinking of a special wedding that happened eight years ago today and I've considered many possible good words for today--love, marriage, ritual, symbol, metaphor, anniversary...But I've decided to just settle on wedding. You're welcome to select among that fine list after you've read my story:
Happy Anniversary Dave and Erin!
Lots of good memories flood back as I recall that day--and the days and years that came before and that have come since. The family and friends had gathered at a renovated historic train station to send them on their journey. We spoke of the significance of that. There were lots of symbols and metaphors in this wedding ritual.
The happy couple exchanged special stones that were part of the foundation of their relationship being laid that day. And as the officiant, I had assured my mother, the nervous grandma, that all would be legal and appropriately sacred, despite her anxiety over what her famously unconventional grandson might invent for his wedding. The stones were only one thing she might have been nervous about.
The groom sang his vows to his bride, with professional back-up provided by his twin brother and the other groomsmen. We all serenaded the newly-weds with our amazing kazoo orchestra at dinner. Murphy, the dog, did not attend, but was given recognition in the toasts I think. (Did you know Grandma was worried about this, Dave?)
Dave and Erin's journey has taken them to Iqaluit where Henry was born and then to the east coast where we welcomed Jane and Alice.
In honour of this special family I give you the Benediction spoken by their auntie at their wedding:
And now, may you rest in each other’s love;
may you grow in each other’s care;
may you enjoy each other’s challenges
and share each other’s adventures.
May those things you undertake together bring great joy
and may the love you share truly help to change the world.
Go forth in gladness and peace, Amen.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
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Lovely! Congratulations to Dave and Erin. Well done, Auntie!
ReplyDeleteAw, you're going to go and make me cry at my desk. I remember most of all the lovely words you used at that wedding. It made a very special day even more so.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this.
Do you remember the song our friend Dale sang for us? The John Denver song Follow Me? We had no idea, eight years and eight homes ago, how relevant it would become.
"You see I'd like to share my life with you
And show yo things I've seen,
Places that I'm going to,
places where I've been:
To have you there beside me and never be alone,
And all the time that you're with me we will be at home.
Follow me where I go and what I do and who I know,
Make it part of you to be a part of me.
Follow me, up and down, all the way:
Take my hand and I will follow you."
(and, yes, I was pretty sure everything we'd do would cause great hand wringing in a certain lovely grandmother)